Omaha daily bee., 1887-08-25
ANOTHER OMAHA SCOOP"
a Natural Gas Spring Discovered of
luevhaustibIe Cauacity


For sometime parties with a keen eye
have seen many things in the ncighhor-
hood of the Sulphur Springs, north of the
city and east Of the Saratoga plateau.
They were not midnight orgies on the
banks of Cut.Oll lake, nor loving nymphs,
nor the temporary habitations on an inn
aginary island with squatter sover.
eighty gable. 1t was spring-a natural
gas spring, and these parties com.
menced to operate by simply seeing
whether the gas from the spring would
light Il cigarette quicker than
a cigar, or make q larger
TkeF T Tbev eSSntn uaS nSAt on ,hs isaH %av for
a time until the attention of more astute
men was called to the burning spring. I"
These gentlemen were Joseph T. With.
crow, Charles j. Menter, John Drexel,
Mcnael u. Maui, A. Is. Snowden, s. j.
Chambers and William A. Watson. They
Immediately secured a local scientist for
a correct examination of the spring. His
report as far as his professional knowl-
edge would allow him was SO favorable
that the gentlemen above named con
on on the '' map '"s as lot 5, bloJk 6,
Paddock's addition and is Just on thA edge
OF the bluff near where Fifteenth and
Burdette streets would join. 1t is re-
markable spring and tests made Tuesday
night with rude tank four feet in dame
ter ami four feet high caused the flame
from the burning waters to rise eighteen
inches above the surface. This was with
out any machinery whatever. Several
tests have been made previous to the las t
mentioned and ali have shown con
clusively the gaseous power of this spring
Scientific gentlemen have been telc-
graphed to come here from Pittsburg,
Pa, and Akron, o., and the prospects
are that Omaha will have natural gas
for illuminating, cooking and power
purposes. Mr. p. f. Her, who has had
some considerable experience in sinking
his big well, says that this spring is a
marvel and its promises are very good.
When the machinery which has been or
dered reaches here, Omaha will have a
big scoop on anything this side of
Ohio.
The owners of the newly discovered
natural gas spring visited their property
again last evening IN company with a
pose of making u further test Of both the
quality and quantity of the gas. The
spring is located at the intersection OF
Burdette and Fifteenth streets. Shortly
after the entire party had reached the
spring last evening, Joseph q. Withrow
placed match to the stop-cock of a very
rudely constructed receiver and blue
flame about ten inches high rose into the
air. 1t burned very satisfactorily to all
present for fully fifteen minutes and
then gradually lowered until the
flame was but an inch or two
high. The opinion of all present was
that the spring could be made paying
enterprise. r. X. Baker, an expert IN
natural gas wells, was present, and
| watched the test with considerable inter-
est. Al the conclusion of the experiments
Mr.. Baker stated that there was every in
dication of gas in paying quantities; that
he had never seen such strong surface in.
dications before, and if he were inter
estd in the matter he would bore well al
once. p. L. Her stated that the gas ap-
that he had seen in Ohio or other
places. Mr.. Her filled rubber bag with
the gas for the purpose of submitting il
to Prof. Riggy, of Creighton college. Mr.
Her received letter yesterday from Prof
Edward Orton, of the Ohio state geolog
zeal survey, stating that he would be III
Omaha about September and submit the
| gas to a rigid examination.
1t Is intended by the owners of the
| property to erect all necessary machinery
| for the boring of we'll Immediately, and
learn without delay whether or not their
hopes are founded upon facts, or If theil
gas discovery will go with the coal dis
covery into the whence.
Among those present last evening tc
view the test were William A. Paxton, j
A. McShane, Lewis Hill, Charles Shiv
erlck, Captain Rustn, S. j. Charleston
Frank Range and Thomas Tuttle.